SpaceX Launches 29 Starlink Satellites on Falcon 9's Record 36th Flight
Updated
Updated · Space.com · Jul 8
SpaceX Launches 29 Starlink Satellites on Falcon 9's Record 36th Flight
3 articles · Updated · Space.com · Jul 8
Summary
Booster 1067 is set to lift off from Cape Canaveral at 5:25 a.m. EDT Thursday, marking the 36th mission for a single Falcon 9 first stage — a SpaceX record.
The flight will carry 29 Starlink broadband satellites to low Earth orbit, with deployment planned 63.5 minutes after launch as SpaceX keeps expanding its internet constellation.
About 8.5 minutes after liftoff, the booster is scheduled to land on the drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic, extending its lead as SpaceX's most-flown rocket.
The mission will be SpaceX's 80th Falcon 9 launch of 2026, with roughly 80% of those flights dedicated to Starlink, which now has more than 10,700 active satellites.
As its Falcon 9 breaks records, is SpaceX's costly bet on the massive Starship a necessary leap or a potential misstep?
With a trillion-dollar IPO looming, can SpaceX's launch profits sustain its costly Starship and AI bets against growing competition?
Can China's state-backed satellite network exploit Starlink's political vulnerabilities to challenge its global dominance?
SpaceX Falcon 9 B1067’s 36th Launch: A New Benchmark for Rocket Reusability and Its Impact on Space Access
Overview
SpaceX's Falcon 9 booster B1067 is set to make its 36th flight on July 9, 2026, marking a new milestone in reusable rocket technology. This mission highlights the growing reliability and economic advantages of reusing rockets, allowing for more frequent and affordable access to space. The Starlink Group 10-42 mission will launch from Cape Canaveral, aiming to deploy 29 Starlink V2 Mini Optimized satellites into low Earth orbit. B1067’s repeated use demonstrates how SpaceX is pushing the boundaries of spaceflight, making routine launches possible and supporting the rapid expansion of the Starlink internet constellation.